Tournament History

Having already announced himself on the World golfing stage with a Championship leading first round performance at The Open Championship earlier in the summer, as well as being part of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team, Tom Lewis claimed his maiden European Tour title in only his third start as a professional, and as a result was named Rookie of the Year for 2011. On a jam packed leader board that saw five players tied for third, three shots back, and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, one shot better off in second, Lewis fired a Sunday 65 to come out of the pack and take the trophy. It was an assured performance and was an example of the kinds of low scoring on offer in Vilamoura, a course that has three times offered up scores of 20 under par or less in its five events. Two Englishman have won here aside from Lewis – namely Lee Westwood and Steve Webster – as well as Australia’s Richard Green and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.